Are you thinking of plugging in your washing machine or refrigerator in the community storage room? Although it may seem like a pious practice, you should be aware of the regulations that govern this practice. Whether you are the one concerned or your neighbor is taking advantage of this situation, plugging these appliances into your building could have serious consequences.
Appliances that require greater energy consumption, such as the washing machine or the refrigerator, are not usually plugged into the community storage room. This is because the electrical installation is not designed to support the energy load that these devices need to work. However, there are other types of electrical appliances that can be plugged into the storage room without problems, such as vacuum cleaners or battery chargers, as long as their electrical consumption is not too high.
In any case, it is important that before plugging in any appliance in the storage room, the internal regulations of the community of owners are consulted. In addition, it is advisable to contact a professional electrician to verify that the electrical installation of the storage room is adequate and safe for the use of any appliance.
It is illegal?
It is common for the owners of a neighborhood community to use storage rooms to install refrigerators, washing machines or freezers, justifying this practice due to the lack of space in their homes. However, this practice can harm the community in several aspects.
In the first place, it is an unfair use of the community’s resources, since the electricity consumption generated by these electrical appliances is usually covered by all the residents, even if only some use them. In addition, this installation is illegal and can be penalized in the event of an electrical inspection, which can have serious consequences for the community. Likewise, it can generate an increase in the electricity bill that is paid by the community. This may be because these appliances have high electrical consumption and are constantly plugged in, which increases the energy cost of the community. This increase in the bill can be especially significant if several neighbors are using the storage rooms in this way, since the consumption would add up and, therefore, the cost.
Another risk of this practice is the increased risk of loss, since the overload of the electrical installation can cause fires or other property damage. And, this irregular use of storage rooms can cause the community insurance not to cover the damage in the event of an accident, which poses a great risk to the community and its neighbors.
It is important to bear in mind that this type of irregular use of storage rooms may infringe the Horizontal Property Law, since the owners have the obligation not to undermine or alter the security of the building and not harm the rights of other owners. It is important to avoid this type of practice and seek solutions that respect the regulations and the rights of all residents.
What to do if my neighbor connects it?
If you discover that your neighbor has connected his washing machine or freezer in the community storage room, the first thing you should do is talk to him and try to solve the problem amicably. Explain that this practice can cause problems in the electrical installation of the community, which could put the safety of all the neighbors at risk and affect the proper functioning of the electrical appliances.
If after talking with your neighbor the problem persists, it is best to inform the president of the community or the property manager so that they can take action in this regard. Depending on the rules established in the community of owners, they can take actions such as punishing the offending neighbor, demanding that the washing machine be disconnected and, in extreme cases, even proceeding to cut off the electricity supply to the storage room.
If, after verifying that any rule or regulation is being breached, you decide to report your neighbor, you must file a complaint with the police or with the corresponding court. In some cases, the community itself can take charge of the complaint and take steps to solve the problem.
In any case, it is important to act prudently and with respect towards other neighbors, avoiding unnecessary confrontations and always looking for the most appropriate and fair solution for everyone.
